Supermodel Ji Yuanming had been rather irritable lately. Anyone with eyes could tell he was waiting for someone to call.
He was distracted during styling, constantly pulling out his phone to check it. Whenever he saw the empty message screen, his expression darkened.
His performance during the shoot was even worse. His gaze wandered, his charm stopped radiating, and every move he made gave off a distinct "make no mistake, I just got dumped" vibe.
Camera in hand, the photographer stared at the sample shots on the screen and shook his head repeatedly. The female assistant hurried over to apologize. "Sorry, Ji just got back from abroad. He might not have adjusted to the time difference yet. Give him a little more time..."
"Let's call it a day, then." The photographer cut her off and immediately prepared to wrap up.
Of course he was unhappy about wasting more than two hours, but Ji Yuanming's status kept him from voicing his anger.
Jet lag?!
Bullshit!
He's been back for almost five days, and you're still using that excuse? Who do you take for an idiot?!
If he's throwing his weight around, just say so.
Doesn't even have the guts to own it. What a fucking coward!
Cursing inwardly, the photographer left with his team.
The assistant hurried to Ji Yuanming's side. "Ji, what's been going on with you lately? If you're not feeling up to it, should we take a break?"
"Zhong..."
She had only uttered the first syllable of his ideal love's name when Ji Yuanming abruptly interrupted her. "Jian Ran... Why has he been so quiet lately?"
"Huh?" The assistant failed to react.
Her boss never brought up Jian Ran on his own. Why was he acting so strangely today?!
"What do you mean, huh? As an assistant, shouldn't you be keeping track of what's happening in the entertainment industry?" Ji Yuanming took off the sponsored outfit, revealing his perfect eight-pack, and probed with a seemingly casual air. "Do I have to teach you even this?"
Panicking at his words, the assistant hurriedly said, "Of course not, Ji. I know all about it. Jian Ran recently joined a variety show. What was it called? Oh, Lucky Inn. One of those really boring travel shows."
"If Lu Yanting weren't in it, its ratings might break the all-time low."
Ji Yuanming pulled on his shirt and abruptly turned around, a trace of complexity crossing his striking features. "Lu Yanting?"
"Yeah." The assistant nodded, bewildered.
Ji Yuanming paused, then lowered his voice. "Find out whether the show's still inviting new guests."
"Ji, don't tell me you're..." The assistant's mouth fell open in shock, wide enough to fit a duck egg.
Ji Yuanming snapped, "Just ask when I tell you to. What's with all the unnecessary chatter?"
With that, he strode toward the exit of the photography studio on his long legs, standing a full six foot three. His face remained calm, but inwardly he muttered, Found someone new to latch onto already?
Jian Ran, that's just like you!
Hah. I won't let you get your way!
No one had expected a newly launched, underfunded variety show that looked cheap and shoddy in every respect to turn into a dark horse and shoot to the top of the livestream rankings in no time.
Did Emperor Lu's variety show debut really have that much drawing power?
Had hordes of fans flocked in?
No.
It wasn't that simple!
The main reason it stood out among all the livestreams was its eerie, terrifying, utterly baffling atmosphere.
The curiosity of viewers and fans had been thoroughly piqued. Frightened yet excited, they stayed glued to their screens, peeking through their fingers.
They all marveled, "Holy shit, what the hell was that guy deep in the mountains?!"
After wolfing down his plain noodle soup, Li Zongsheng stood up and stiffly turned his head. As though trying to recover the dignity he had just lost, his face grew a few shades more ashen as he asked ominously, "Which room am I staying in?"
The guests and crew huddled in the kitchen, trembling as they ate, instantly grew even more frightened. They involuntarily curled up and pressed tightly together.
At a glance, they resembled quails crying out as they awaited slaughter, anxiously waiting for their fate on the grill.
The assistant director urged in a low voice, "Go on. Someone has to show him the way!"
"What inn doesn't have someone to welcome guests?!"
At his words, everyone seemed to remember something and turned in unison to cast pleading looks at Jian Ran.
The latter curled his lip. "What are you looking at me for? Aren't we supposed to divide up the work? Planning to dump everything on me?"
That was a fair point. After all, he had already appointed himself head chef and supervisor, so the remaining odd jobs naturally had to be assigned to others.
And Emperor Lu had already taken charge of "taking orders." No one dared compete with him.
As for what was left...
The three guests exchanged looks.
Shen Jiafei tentatively raised his hand. "Rock, paper, scissors?"
And so, a minute later, Du Yunmeng wore a mournful expression as she dragged her leaden legs toward the kitchen exit, looking back with every step.
Not far away, the man in Republican-era attire stood motionless, his face terrifying and his eyes staring so hard they looked ready to pop out...
As she passed Jian Ran, Du Yunmeng suddenly thought of something and grabbed his arm like a lifeline.
"Jian Ran, you have to help me!"
Leaning against the wall, Lu Yanting saw this and furrowed his brow almost imperceptibly.
Jian Ran also pulled his arm back irritably. "Just talk. Keep your hands to yourself."
"Talisman paper!" Du Yunmeng said urgently. "I want to buy talisman paper."
At that, Jian Ran's eyes lit up. He raised a hand and patted Du Yunmeng on the shoulder. "Buddy, you've got foresight!"
"But the sale's over now."
"One thousand yuan a sheet."
Du Yunmeng gritted her teeth. "One thousand it is. I need it now!"
Unhurriedly, Jian Ran took a sheet out of his trouser pocket. "Luckily, I drew one on a whim during the break. Here, take it."
Without another word, Du Yunmeng snatched it and turned to leave.
Jian Ran called after his retreating figure, "Remember to add me on WeChat and transfer the money!"
The camera spared no effort in recording their whole outlandish exchange.
The livestream chat grew lively, comments shooting across and filling the screen.
[Jian Jianjian, what the hell are you doing?! Selling stuff on a variety show?! And talisman paper, of all things! It was 199 before, and now it's a thousand? Has he lost his mind?!]
[Could Du Yunmeng be a hired shill?! What a brain-dead idiot, actually believing Jian Jianjian?! The whole entertainment industry knows how unreliable he is!]
[Genuine question: which rule says you can't sell things on a variety show? Isn't a sale just a matter of mutual consent? Don't flame me if you disagree. I'm just a passerby!]
[Oh, where did this passerby pop out from? One of Jian Jianjian's paid trolls? These days, anyone can pay to whitewash their image!]
[I'm so fucking sick of you mindless haters. Did Jian Ran dig up your ancestors' graves? Why attack everything he does?! I'm fucking becoming a fan today. If Jian Ran sells talisman paper on a livestream, I'll be the first to fucking buy it!]
[...]
As the livestream chat raged on, a "ghostly scream" whose voice was impossible to identify suddenly rang out from the inn's second floor.
"Aaaaaaah-!"
Everyone hiding in the kitchen, too afraid to go out, shuddered violently.
"Did something happen to Du Yunmeng?!"
Shen Jiafei asked with an exaggerated expression.
Before you continue